The Bronze Bell Shipwreck

The Bronze Bell (or Tal-y-Bont) wreck lies to the south of the Sarn Badrig Reef (St. Partick’s Causeway) between Barmouth and Harlech in Cardigan Bay. The wreck was first discovered in 1978 and is named after the bell that was found on the site bearing the date 1677. Along with cannons and anchors on the site were found 43 blocks of Italian Carrara marble. These were possibly destined for the Christopher Wren designed rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral, following the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The Bronze Bell shipwreck exhibition is housed in Barmouth’s oldest building, Tŷ Gwyn (see No 7 off Heritage Trail stops and Tŷ Gwyn history), near to Barmouth harbour. It’s not always open but deserves a visit if it is. The volunteer staff are happy to chat and usually very knowledgeable about the wreck and the local area.

More information can be found in this BBC article or on the MADU site. A book by Tom Bennett is available locally or alternatively on Amazon. Channel 4 produced an episode on the wreck in 2004 in their series Wreck Detectives (Series 2 Episode 2); this is available for viewing in the museum.

View last Tuesday from the tower of Oxford University Church of St Mary the Virgin over (L to R) All Souls, Queen's, Magdalen and Univ. Nice day in Oxford to celebrate Tommy's 21st. pic.twitter.com/W1ne31BKVx

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